FORGIVEN NOT PERFECT

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:34 KJV

My sister gave me a blouse.  It has a picture of the Bible and the words “I’M NOT PERFECT JUST FORGIVEN”.  Even though I’ve had the blouse for a long time and it has faded because of being washed so much, it is my favorite blouse because it says that I am forgiven.  Thank God for His forgiveness.

I have received a lot of emails telling me how wonderful it is that I write devotions and even though I appreciate the kind words and comments because I get discouraged just like you do, I am not perfect.  Please don’t look to me, keep your eyes on Jesus.  He is the only perfect One and He will never fail you.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).  Don’t look to me or to your pastor or to your Sunday school teacher because we are human, look to Jesus.

Rev. Arthur Luther wrote a hymn I used to sing in Sunday school “Jesus Never Fails”.  I was always happy when we sang it.  I used to put people on pedestals but I don’t do that any more. We are still in the flesh and we will fail one another at times.  Also, it’s not fair to people to put them on a pedestal.

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving my sins.  Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

February 3, 2015